Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"Still disagree on it being your fuck up but.... can't say that you're not being stand up at the moment, regardless of whether it's paying a debt or just being a good person," Varric finally says. "Go take that walk. Sunshine and Wynne shouldn't be long."

[Carver Amell]

Carver hangs his head. "Okay. Just... please be gentle?"

[Varric]

"Yeah. She's... Getting mad at something for hitting you while they have a fit is a waste of time. I don't like her but that's not the point right now," Varric says with a nod. "She needs help. How, why, who should have helped before, does she deserve help... that can wait. Right now, we're helping."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "Right. We're helping."

[Varric]

"Thatta a lad," Varric says warmly. "Go on. We'll get this done. And... Carver. Well done. Not everyone wold try. Should maybe, but wouldn't. So. Good on you." He clasps Carver on the back firmly, then sends him on his way while they wait for Wynne and Merrill arrive.

[NPCs]

Whether it's the Doctor wanting to do a solid for a probable future colleague or simply that he is exactly as his title suggests, it's not hard to get Leandrea admitted to SummerHill. The initial intake is... not promising. Leandra is pretty bad off- while she was never enchanted or the like, she  had been exposed to a very, very unhealthy amount of necrotic energy in addition to depression, grief, emotional abuse, hallucinations, delusions and a few other odds and ends. But... she's in a safe place now, being helped by experts and away from those outside influences that were hurting her.

Of course, that doesn't make the pain and guilt in her family vanish...

[Bethany]

Three days after Carver's discovery and the night of Leandra's intake diagnosis, finds the atmosphere at the Tethras household rather heavy. When Carver says goodnight and heads to his room, the person that slips into his room isn;t Merrill as is the norm but instead his sister. She's got a pair of mugs in her hands and she's wearing her nightgown and a somber expression. "Hey," she whispers softly. 

[Carver Amell]

"Hey," he says quietly, taking one of the mugs. Carver sits up on his bed, legs crossed, looking at his sister. 

[Bethany]

It's silent for a long, heavy few minutes. "...am I terrible person?" Beth finally asks in a broken voice.

[Carver Amell]

"No," he says instantly. "No, Beth. Come here."

[Bethany]

Beth moves to sit on the edge of the bed, head bowed and posture meekly. Silent.

[Carver Amell]

"Beth..." he says, softly, reaching for her hand with the spare one not holding his mug. "Hey. What are you thinking?"

[Bethany]

"I..." Bethany swallows, staring at her mug, gripped tightly in both hands despite the steam coming off the tea within. "All... all of... what's happening. With... with... Her. The only part I care about is... that you feel bad."

[Carver Amell]

"She tried to take you away," he growls, his hand tightening on the mug to avoid crushing hers. "I don't blame you."

[Bethany]

"I'm supposed to be a Bastionite. A healer. Even if- even if she's- it shouldn't matter what or who she is, I should care. Gods, you care. You feel guilty and ashamed, despite what she did to you and all I can feel is... a vague bit of pity that's buried under annoyance, hate and- and satisfaction," she finishes in a tone of utter self-loathing.